A young working class Baltimore man spends 10 years on a single portrait, believing it is his means to fame and fortune. But he also believes that only one man can lead him there---the ...
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Title: Waiting for Hockney (2008)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Billy Pappas | ... | Self |
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Larry Link | ... | Self - Architect |
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Cookie Pappas | ... | Self |
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Bill Schulte | ... | Self |
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Ben Schapiro | ... | Self |
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Jeff Grutkowski | ... | Self - Friend |
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Stephanie Panos Link | ... | Self |
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Jim Pappas | ... | Self - Billy's Father |
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Lawrence Weschler | ... | Self |
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Charlie Scheips | ... | Self |
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Gary Vikan | ... | Self - Museum Director (as Dr. Gary Vikan) |
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René Sterner | ... | Self - Billy's Administrator (as Brother Rene Sterner) |
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Gerneen Pappas | ... | Self |
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Will Pappas | ... | Self |
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Neil Rhodes | ... | Self |
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
Storyline
A young working class Baltimore man spends 10 years on a single portrait, believing it is his means to fame and fortune. But he also believes that only one man can lead him there---the famous artist David Hockney. What happens when you finally meet the god of your own making? Written by Julie Checkoway
Taglines:
Art. Ambition. Poppy seed cake.Genres:
DocumentaryCertificate:
Not RatedParents Guide:
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Performed by Cameron Rafati and The Oven Bird
Written by Cameron Rafati and Ben Margetts
Published by The Sizar Ship Music (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Sizar Ship Records
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Paintings, drawings, or sketches of several classical or modern masters are seen throughout the film, especially their self-portraits, including: Leonardo da Vinci ("Self-portrait in red chalk" [c.1512-1515]), Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres ("Self-portrait at age 24" [1804]), Albrecht Dürer ("Self-Portrait" [1500]), Grant Wood ("American Gothic" [1930]), Michaelangelo ("Statue of David" [1504] and others), Rembrandt van Rijn ("Self-portrait" [c.1629] and others], and of course David Hockney ("Self-portrait with Charley" and many others). See more »Quotes
Billy Pappas: There were no down moments in this thing... everything is hit it hard, like... my life depends on it. Let's let everything go to hell, except excellence... excellence at any cost.See more »
Soundtracks
53rd StoryPerformed by Cameron Rafati and The Oven Bird
Written by Cameron Rafati and Ben Margetts
Published by The Sizar Ship Music (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Sizar Ship Records
See more »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
2008 (USA) See more »Company Credits
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I loved this film. At times it was hard to imagine that this feature length film is really a documentary. The characters are vivid, wild and eccentric. The film centers around Billy Pappas, a young man from a working class family who sets out to create the next new movement in the art world, spending nearly ten years of his young life making one pencil drawn portrait. With a support group that includes an eccentric mentor, a priest and the world's most loving mother, among others, Billy decides that there is only one person who can truly appreciate and validate his creation and that person is the famous artist/painter/photographer/art historian, David Hockney.
So many contemporary and important issues are addressed in this film such as "what is art?", "who can judge the value of art?" and "who can determine if an endeavor is worthwhile?".
The film tells this story beautifully using much more than the usual "talking heads" of many documentaries. The music, archival film and footage of Billy's daily life provides an engaging pace and plenty to keep the viewer actively involved as the story unfolds. I do not want to give away any of the suspense of the film, but suffice to say that I had just the right mix of anticipation and fulfillment that I needed to keep me thoroughly attentive throughout the film.
I was lucky enough to attend a screening of this film in May 2008 at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Why do I say lucky? Well the film's "star", Billy Pappas, attended the screening and he along with the film's director, Julie Checkoway and her producer/brother all answered questions at the end of the screening. It was so much fun to see and hear it.